For those of us who don't have legs upto our armpits...

Fools Motto

Fools Motto

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or 'vertically challenged' shall we say!!
Question

How do you get bridles on really big horses?? (Those unhelpful nags who know your a titch and don't offer any help, they'd rather laugh as they do the giraffe impression!?)
And
How do you feel / what do you do about when said 'giraffe horse' is being tricky to lead, but because they are so big, you don't think they can see you?!

Just want to get a few ideas... so fire away with possible solutions!
 
I'm not "vertically challenged" but having an 18.1 makes almost everybody short.
To put the bridle on I stand on a mounting block. He doesn't put his head up to get away from me, just can't be arsed to lower it so I can reach!
I don't have the leading problem, he's a very good boy, so can't comment on that.
The best one is putting his rugs on. I have to turn them upside down, take 10 steps back, then do a running jump just to get them over his back. Blooming elephant.
 
Christmas Crackers said:
or 'vertically challenged' shall we say!!
Question

How do you get bridles on really big horses?? (Those unhelpful nags who know your a titch and don't offer any help, they'd rather laugh as they do the giraffe impression!?)
And
How do you feel / what do you do about when said 'giraffe horse' is being tricky to lead, but because they are so big, you don't think they can see you?!

Just want to get a few ideas... so fire away with possible solutions!
Click to expand...

Lol!! Bless us! Im 5'2 and had a 17.2 but he was an angel to deal with in every way, but i did used to ride an ex police horse 17.3 who was a bugger!! A treat worked every time with the bridle, or abit of molasses on the bit. With the leading, id suggest doing loads of ground work in a school or something to teach them about personal space! x
 
My mum is vertically challenged, but I'm near 6 foot, so I just stand and laugh when my 17.2 giraffe sticks his head up when she's trying to bridle him. :D

He's pure cheeky, never does it with me (knows there's no point because I can always reach) and you can nearly seem him laugh when he does it with Mum. He does put his head down eventually for her when he gets bored of the game ;)

I am clicker training him to put his head down anyways, so she can use that 'trick' when he has it. :)
 
rub something tasty on the bit anything like my cob you will be fighting him of. Iv done this with all my horses as i dont want to put my fingers in their mouth so i can get the bit in. And they all take their bit like a treat Even though not done this for years now.
 
I love the idea of putting something tasty on the bit but one thing we used to do was undo the bit on one side and do it up again once the headpiece was in place.

As for leading, how about holding a whip between the two of you, just as a deterent, and just to remind him that he can't walk on top of you.

Let us know how you get on and what works!
 
Stand on the manger!!! At 5'1, I feel your pain :D In fact I used to be known as 'Little' to differentiate myself from toehrs on the yard with the same name, thanks guys!
In terms of leading, just make sure you're somewhere in the horses field of vision and march as determindly forwards as if you were leading a tiny pony!
 
I'm 5ft2 but can honestly say I haven't ever had this problem (even with youngsters). I suppose in some ways it does depend how you go about the situation-but I've never used any special 'tricks' as such to get a bridle on. If they do raise their head slightly, I make sure I'm quick enough to put a hand around their nose or put the head piece around their nose if I feel they may try to.

With the leading, I've not had too many problems either to be honest. If I feel a horse is worked up and moving closer towards my personal space, I put a hand at eye level but not next to the head and this usually works. Lots of ground work, as someone else said, is the best thing though for smaller people dealing with bigger horses. If I've made myself bigger by raising my hand in the air (not to threaten to hit either I should add!) and they still won't listen, a sharp tug on the lead rope and an 'over' (proving you have taught them what over means) works, or putting my elbow into the middle of the neck and making their neck bend away from me so they can see me always works.
 
im 4ft 10 so most horses are big to me!!! never really had a problem though?? only time i've ever been squished when leading was bringing in 2 at once and a pheasent flew out of the bush into the side of one of them, unsupprisingly he jusmped sideways.

As for bridles get a bucket if you really cant reach but time spent teaching them to lower the head is well worth it if its a regular problem
 
Thanks for all the advice:) I am questioning this simply because I've got a 172hh+ 3year old filly, whom I am selling at the sales in Newmarket next week on behalf of my work. She has been very good at home, but thought I'd ask here for any extra tips as being away from home makes her a tad excited and more giraffe like! (And yes, I don't want to look like a fool in front of ''the people with money''!) I CAN cope with most situations, but sadly can't grow. lol As for her leading, she can be a bit bullish, been working on it though, so hoping all will fall into place when it matters.
 
Devonshire dumpling said:
a step or teach horse to put its head down? x
Click to expand...

This. If you flex her neck laterally she'll automatically lower her head as well. When my tall share (17hh) is feeling nervy he goes into full Friesian mode and puts his head in the stable rafters... Having said that, he will drop his head for me generally, but not for his mum cos he doesn't need to (she's 6')...
 
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Jollytall, I was known as littleK on the yard I learnt to ride on. At the time there were two of us with the same name in the same group, I was 10 the other girl was 15. It stuck and at age 19 back from uni for the holidays I was introduced to a girl of about 8 with the same name as me and they called me Little K :o
 
I'm 5 feet 1 and have a 17.2. I used to stand on a mounting block or step but then I got clever and bribed him. He gets a treat every time the bridle goes over his ears. Now he can't wait to get the bridle on and almost puts the bit in his mouth himself. He's very greedy. So no need for a step any more, as he brings his head down to the perfect height for me.

I hate doing the rugs though. Teaching him to kneel so I can get them on more easily is probably going too far...
 
I'm 5'2" and have a 17.2hh horse who I bought as a 3 year old just broken (advertised at 16.1hh). She has major issues about the bridle and it's taken 2 years to get her to the point where I can put it on without a panick reaction, but I still undo the cheek piece to put the bit in after I've slotted the headstall and brow band over her ears because I cant put it on normally without a reaction, whilst my sister who's 5'6" dosent have a problem now. The only problem i have now is my dodgy knees and the fact that i cant get on or off without standing on something!
 
Burnttoast said:
This. If you flex her neck laterally she'll automatically lower her head as well.
Click to expand...

That :D

My boss always told me if the horse is taking the mickey then stand with your back against their left shoulder. Right hand around the nose and "push" the nose so their head is "wrapped" around your body.
They can't raise their head if it's flexed :D
 
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